One of Hokkaido’s most popular tourist spot, which is the Lake Toya. Winter is the best season for visitors to enjoy its beautiful natural scenery. It is a volcanic caldera lake in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Abuta District. It even has the stratovolcano of Mount Usu on the southern rim of the caldera.
Lake Toya, Hokkaido Winter are made for each other
Winter is the best season to visit the magnificent views Lake Toya. What’s so special about this lake? It has the ability to never freeze despite the freezing cold of Hokkaido winter, it is the only one of two lakes in Japan that never freeze due to the stratovolcano around the lake.
Take a nice relaxing calm walk in the woods along the lake side, enjoy and experience the quietness of the winter lake, give in to the adventurous kick and watch, listen to the wild birds, discover the footprints of the varieties of animals that live there. To feel the ultimate spaciousness and vast land of Hokkaido, you may walk up on the hills overlooking the huge snowfields or towering Mt. Yotei.
Attrations and activities around Lake Toya
Usuzan Ropeway
Getting to the top of Mount Usu, the volcano which has erupted four times in the past 100 years, the most recent eruption occurred in the year 2000. The Usuzan Ropeway brings you close to the volcano’s summit. The upper station’s observation deck offers panoramic views over all Lake Toya and even neighboring Showa Shinzan.
Spot Information
- Name: Usuzan Ropeway
- Address: 184-5 Showashinzan, Sobetsu, Usu District, Hokkaido 052-0102
Lake Toya Hot Spring (Toyako Onsen)
The hot spring opened in 1917, it is well-known for its healing efficacy of its brownish-yellow hot spring water help to relieve neuralgia, arthritic pain, oversensitivity to cold and more. The water is famous as a skincare treatment, taking a bath in the water is said to make skin smoother and more attractive. There are even spots for you to enjoy relaxing footbaths and hand baths. There are dozens of hot springs here, be sure to double check for the correct one.
Spot Information
- Name: Lake Toya Hot Spring (Toyako Onsen)
- Address: 142 Toyakoonsen, Toyako-cho Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721
Nakajima Islands
The untouched natural islands in the middle of Lake Toya, it is a forest’s promenade to see wild deer and a forest of giant spruce. The Nakajima consist of four islands, the main island is Oshima, it has a total circumference of 7.6km and is also the landing site for the boat, which can be reached in 30 minutes by boat from Lake Toya Hot Spring. The island offers beautiful nature scenes and lush greenery of forest.
Spot Information
- Name: Nakajima Islands
- Address: Nakajima, Sobetsu-cho, Usu-gun, Hokkaido 052-0100
Recommended Clothing and Weather Climate of Lake Toya
In the winter Lake Toya may drop as low as -10°C, and highest to be -2°C. Therefore, heavy winter clothing is suggested for your visit to Lake Toya during winter. As the snow thickens, it is best that you wear snow boots to get to mountains and hills.
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